Check controlled dispensing apparatus



March 10, 1970 w. L. ROBINSON CHECK CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1.968

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5y mfw 14 TTOK/VE Y6 March 10, 1970 w. 1.. ROBINSON 3,499,514

CHECK CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1968 4 Sheefs-Sheet2 ,4/ L EEC: 3 F 2.

N VE N TOR WILL/AM LOVELL ROBINSON film/WM H TTORNE Y5 March 10, 1970 w,IN 3,499,514

CHECK CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet5 I N VE N TOR WILLIAM L0 VELL Roam/501v ATTORNEYS March 10, 1970 w.ROBINSON CHECK CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledFeb. 28 1968 40 IN VENTOR WILL/HM Love-u. kolswvsolv ATTORNE Y5 UnitedStates Patent 3,499,514 CHECK CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS WilliamLovell Robinson, Northolt, England, assignor to Electric ShopDevelopment Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Feb. 28,1968, Ser. No. 708,969 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb.28, 1967, 9,536/ 67 Int. Cl. G07f 11/00 US. Cl. 19410 6 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE Dispensing apparatus for operation in two or moredifferent ways, having a register for each possible operation to countthe number of articles dispensed according to that operation and to stopthe dispensing when the appropriate number has been dispensed. A sensingmeans senses the dispensing of each article and is normally connected tothe register for one possible operation but during another possibleoperation is automatically connected instead to the register for thatother operation. Thus one possible dispensing operation (e.g. a fruitmachine operation) may be interrupted by other possible operations (e.g.change giving operations).

The invention relates to dispensing apparatus.

The invention provides a dispensing apparatus capable of being operatedin at least two different ways to dispense a succession of articles,which apparatus includes means for sensing the dispensing of eacharticle, a registering means for each possible operation of theapparatus to count the number of each sort of articles dispensedaccording to that operation and to stop the dispensing of furtherarticles for that operation when the appropriate number has beendispensed, and connecting means for normally connecting the sensingmeans to the registering means for one possible operation of themachine, the connecting means being arranged, when the apparatus isoperated according to another of its possible operations, to disconnectthe sensing means automatically from the registering means for the saidone operation and to connect it instead to the registering means for thesaid other operation, the connecting means also being arranged, oncompletion of that other operation, to connect the sensing meansautomatically with the registering means for the said one operation sothat the apparatus will resume the said one operation if it isincomplete.

The dispensing apparatus may have for at least one or other of itspossible operations an article receiving part for receiving articles ofa number of different sorts and for sorting them and a control forcontrolling that operation of the apparatus which control comprises anumber of control switches each positioned in the article receiving partof the apparatus so as to be operated when an article of a particularsort is received and connected to start the dispensing of articles whenoperated, the registering means for that operation having a number ofoutputs, one for each sort of article which can be received by thereceiving part of the apparatus, each output being arranged to beselected by the associated one of the control switches when the controlswitch is operated and, if so selected, to be operated by theregistering means when the number of articles predetermined inaccordance with the particular control switch operated has beendispensed, and each output being connected to stop the dispensing ofarticles for that operation when the output is operated.

The control may be for controlling the said other operation of theapparatus, in which case each control switch is connected to theconnecting means so that when the control switch operates the connectingmeans disconnects the sensing means from the registering means for thesaid one operation and connects it instead to the registering means forthe said other operation, and each output is connected to the connectingmeans so that when the output is operated on completion of that otheroperation it operates the connecting means to restore the connectionbetween the sensing means and the registering means for the said oneoperation. At least one registering means may be a stepping switch.

The connecting means may include a pawl, and the registering means forat least one of the possible operations of the apparatus may include aratchet, the pawl and ratchet being for operation together, theconnecting means being arranged, when the apparatus is being operatedaccording to another possible operation of the apparatus, to prevent thepawl from operating the ratchet.

The connecting means may also include a solenoid arranged to beoperated, when the apparatus is being operated according to the saidother possible operation of the apparatus, to move the pawl clear of theratchet. Each control switch may be arranged, when operated (to operatethe solenoid.

The apparatus when it operates according to the said other operation mayoperate as a change giving machine. The apparatus when it operatesaccording to the said one operation may operate as a fruit machine.

If the dispensing apparatus may in operation both receive and dispensearticles of a particular kind one at a time, it may have an indicatorfor indicating when the difference between the numbers of articles ofthat particular kind received and dispensed respectively by theapparatus has fallen to a predetermined value, the indicator comprisingfirst and second sensing means for sensing the receipt into ordispensing from the apparatus respectively of each article of thatparticular kind, counting means arranged to be operated by the first andsecond sensing means to add and substract when the articles are receivedand dispensed respectively, and signalling means, the counting meansbeing arranged to operate the signalling means only when the saiddifference has fallen to a predetermined value. The said sensing meansand the second sensing means may be one and the same. The counting meansmay be arranged to provide a visual indication of the said difference.

In this specification the term article includes coins and coin tokens.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of part of an apparatus capable of beingoperated in two different ways, as a fruit machine and as a changegiving machine respectively;

FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram of a control for the apparatus shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is part of the circuitry of a modified form of the apparatusshown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are circuit diagrams of modifications of the controlshown in FIGURE 2.

The apparatus is a combined fruit machine and change giving machine andis capable of being operated in two diiferent ways either as a fruitmachine or as a change giving machine to dispense a succession ofthree-penny coin tokens. The apparatus has a hopper (not shown) forstoring coin tokens inside which is positioned a disc (not shown) havingslots around its periphery. To dispense tokens a hopper moor (not shown)is arranged to rotate the disc so that tokens are picked up in the slotsin the periphery of the disc and are then dispensed from the apparatusone at a time by being allowed to fall out of the slots. Referring toFIGURE 1 the lever 31 senses the dispensing of each token by beingpositioned so that it is moved up and down by each token as it isdispensed.

The fruit machine is of the type known as the Jolly Joker, which acceptssixpences and three-penny tokens, a sixpence allowing the machine to beoperated twice and a token allowing it to be operated once. The-tokensare larger in diameter than a sixpence thus permitting sixpences andtokens to be separated on a diameter basis within the machine. Thesixpences are fed to a cash box, where they are retained, and the tokensare fed to the storage hopper. The fruit machine is operated by pullinga handle (not shown) which causes reels (not shown) carrying fruitsymbols to spin. After a time all the reels come to rest and one or moreelectrical circuits may be made or broken depending on the symbolsdisplayed i.e. on the rest positions of the reels. If a winningcombination of symbols is displayed an electrical circuit associatedwith that combination is completed so that the hopper motor is energisedto rotate the disc and start the dispensing of tokens. The fruit machineis provided with a register shown in FIGURE 1 to count the number oftokens dispensed and to stop the dispensing of further tokens when thenumber appropriate to the winning combination has been dispensed. Thisregister comprises the ratchet wheel 32, the arm 33 mounted on the wheelfor rotation therewith, and two wipers 34 which are carried by the arm33 and which are in electrical contact with radial printed circuits 35on a disc 36, only part of which is shown in FIGURE 1. The ratchet wheel32 is normaly connected to the lever 31 by a pawl 37, which is carriedby an arm 38 attached to the lever 31, the arrangement being such thateach time the lever 31 moves up and down i.e. each time a token isdispensed, the pawl 37 will rotate the ratchet wheel 32 an amountcorresponding to one tooth, the detent 39 being provided to prevent thewheel moving back after it has rotated, so that the wheel as it rotatescounts the number of tokens dispensed.

The electrical circuit which is completed to start the hopper motor whenthe reels of the fruit machine come to rest with the fruit symbols in awinning position includes one of the wipers 34 and the associated one ofthe printed circuits 35. As the wheel 32 counts the number of tokensdispensed the wiper 34 is moved along the associated printed circuit 35,and the length of the printed circuit 35 is arranged so that the wiperwill come to the end of it and break the electrical circuit hithertocausing the hopper motor to operate, when the number of tokensappropriate the winning combination of fruit symbols displayed has beendispensed. The fruit machine is arranged so that the reels cannot bespun again until a dispensing operation from the fruit machine has beencompleted, otherwise the hopper motor would be stopped before adispensing operation was complete. It will be noted that if the mainssupply to the apparatus is interrupted the wipers 34 will remain inposition so that the dispensing from the hopper will automaticallyresume after the mains supply has been restored.

At the completion of a dispensing operation from the fruit machine thereset solenoid 40 is arranged to be operated so that its plunger 41moves the detent 39 and the pawl 37 to the left as seen in FIGURE 1 sothat they are completely clear of the ratchet wheel 32 and so that ahelical spring 42 may be allowed to return the wheel 32 to its initialposition.

The control circuit of the apparatus which controls the change givingmachine is shown in FIGURE 2'. The change giving machine has a coinreceiving part for receiving either two-shilling coins or half crownsand for sorting the coins (eg by means of suitably sized entry slots forthe coins).

The control circuit operates from AC main supply terminals L and and hastwo microswitches 49 and 50 which are positioned in the coin receivingpart of the machine so as to be automatically and momentarily closedwhen wohi ng coin and a ha f g ow m a ceived respectively. The switches49 and 50 are in the energising circuits of the relays A/ 3 and C/ 3respectively, and these relays have relay operated switches A1, A2 andA3, and C1, C2 and C3 respectively. The relay operated switch C1 is inan energising or control circuit for the hopper motor, the circuit beingarranged so that that when the switch is closed the motor operates.

When the switch 49 closes on receipt of a two-shilling coin the relayA/3 is energised and its relay operated switches A1, A2 and A3 closed.The closing of the switch A1 maintains a holding circuit for the relayA/ 3, and the closing of the switch A2 energises the relay C/3. When theswitch 50 closes on receipt of a half crown coin the relay C/ 3 isenergised without the relay A/ 3 being first energised. Thus whether atwo-shilling coin or a half crown coin is received the relay C/ 3 isenergised so that the relay operated switch C1 is closed to start thehopper motor causing the dispensing or three-penny coin tokens to start.The relay C/3 when energised also closes the relay operated switch C3which maintains a holding circuit for the relay C/3 so that thedispensing of coin tokens once started will continue.

The pawl 37 is arranged, when the apparatus is operated as a changegiving machine, to disconnect the lever 31 from the register for thefruit machine shown in FIG- URE 1 by the provision of a solenoid 43(shown also in FIGURE 2) which is energised by the closing of the switchC3 and which when energised pulls its plunger 44 to the left as seen inFIGURE 1. The plunger 44 is connected to the pawl 37 by a flexiblelinkage 45, which allows free vertical movement of the pawl, so that theleftward movement of the plunger 44 moves the pawl 37 clear of theratchet wheel 32. Thus the ratchet wheel 32 does not count tokensdispensed according to a change giving operation.

The control for the change giving machine is provided with a registercomprising the rotary step up switch 51 to count the number ofthree-penny tokens dispensed according to a change giving operation.

The switch 51 has two rotary contacts which are ganged together andwhich can be in any one of eleven positions and are normally in the restor zero position and has a stepping up coil 52 which each time it isenergised, steps the contacts of the step up switch 51 up one position.The step up switch 51 is conveniently a Rodene type 780 stepping relay.

The lever 31 apart from moving the pawl 37 each time it moves up anddown also operates the switch 46 shown in both FIGURES 1 and 2. When theapparatus is operated as a change giving machine the register 51 isoperatively connected to the lever 31 by the closing of the switch C3which causes the coil 52 to be energised each time the switch 46 isoperated i.e. each time a coin token is dispensed.

Thus when the apparatus is operated as a change giving machine theclosing of the switch C3 automatically disconnects the lever 31 from theregister for the fruit machine and connects it instead to the registerfor the change giving machine.

The switch 51 has two outputs 53 and 54 leading from its eighth andtenth positions respectively. The outputs 53 and 54 lead to the relayoperated switch A3. The switch A3 normally selects the output 54 asshown in FIGURE 2 and will continue to do so when a half crown coin isreceived when the relay A/ 3 will remain unenergised. However, when atwo-shilling coin is received the switch A3 will be operated to selectthe output 53.

When the apparatus is giving change for a two-shilling coin the output53 will be selected so that when eight three-penny tokens have beendispensed as change and the contacts of the switch 51 have reached theireighth position the coil 55 and the relay B/3 will be energised. Thecoil 55, when energised, resets the switch 51 by releasing a helicalspring (not shown) allowing it to move he two rq ary contacts back totheir initial position. The

time for which the coil 55 is energised does not have to be as long asthe actual time required by the spring to reset the switch 51. The relayB/3 when energised opens its relay operated switches B1 and B3 andcloses its relay operated switch B2. The closing of the switch B2maintains a holding circuit for the relay B/3 and for the coil 55through the second contact of the step up switch 51 until the step upswitch 51 has been returned to its initial position, and the opening ofthe switches B1 and B3 de-energises the relays A/3 and C/3 respectivelyso that the dispensing of further coins is stopped.

The operation of the apparatus to give change for a half crown issimilar except in that as the output 54 is selected ten coin tokens willbe dispensed before the dispensing of tokens is stopped and the step upswitch 51 reset.

It is not necessary for eight or ten tokens to be dis pensed as changefor a two-shilling piece or a half crown respectively. The outputs 53and 54 in FIGURE 2 may be connected to positions 7 and 9 respectively ofthe switch 51 and a suitable contact of the relay C used to allow thefruit machine to be operated once in lieu of the odd token.

If the fruit machine is in the process of dispensing a large number oftokens it is possible for its dispensing operation to be interrupted byseveral dispensing operations of the change giving machine.

When a change giving operation is started the relay C/3 will also openits relay operated switch C2. This switch when opened de-energises asolenoid (not shown) to allow a spring (not shown) to operate amechanism (not shown) for blocking the entry of coins into the coinreceiving part of the change giving machine. The fruit machine will alsohave a similar mechanism to block the entry of coins if the apparatus isin the process of dispensing coin tokens according to a change givingoperation. However as the change giving machine may interrupt adispensing operation of the fruit machine the switch C2 is not openedwhen the fruit machine is opearted.

It is not necessary for the pawl 37 and detent 39 to be connectedmechanically to the lever 31. Instead as shown in FIGURE 3 the pawl 37may be operated by a solenoid 61 energized by the sensing switch 46. Theswitch SW2 normally connects the switch 46 to the solenoid 61 but duringchange giving operation it is switched by the solenoid 43 to connect itinstead to the step up coil 52.

The machine may be provided with an indicator for indicating when thedifference between the numbers of tokens received by and dispensed fromrespectively the hopper has fallen to a predetermined value. For thispurpose an electrically operated counter of the cyclometer type is usedhaving two sensing coils, microswitches or the like. One coil isarranged to send a positive pulse to the counter when a token isreceived to cause it to add and the other is arranged to send a negativepulse to the counter when a token is dispensed to cause it to subtract.The second sensing switch may of course be the switch 46. An electricalcontact is arranged on the counter to operate a signalling means whenthe difference in the numbers of tokens received and dispensed hasfallen to "a predetermined value. Preferably the contact is adjustableso the number of tokens left for which the indicator operates can bechanged. For this purpose an English Numbering Machine type 443 countermay be used. Such a counter may be arranged to give a visual indicationof the difference and may be provided with a reset facility.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of the control circuit shown in FIGURE 2.The circuit is additionally provided with manually operable switches 63and one having two ganged contacts 62a, 62b. When this switch isoperated, the contact 62a operates the solenoid 43 to disconnect thepawl 37 from the ratchet wheel 32 and the relay C/3 to start thedispensing of tokens as described above, and the contacts 62b open todisconnect the step up switch 51. The purpose of the switch 62 is tocause all the coins contained to be dispensed so that they be counted(by an indicator if it is provided). The ganged switches 63 are providedto convert the control from one which controls the dispensing of eightand ten threepenny tokens to one which controls the dispensing of fourand five six-penny tokens in exchange for a two-shilling piece and ahalf crown piece respectively.

FIGURE 5 shows how the control circuit may be further modified, and asthis control circuit is basically similar to those of FIGURES '2 and 4it will be described only in so far as it differs.

The relay B/3 instead of controlling two relay operable switches B1 andB3 in the holding circuits of the relays A/ 3 and C/3 respectivelycontrols a single relay operable switch B4 common to the holdingcircuits of both relays A/3 and C/3. The switch B4 like the switches B1and B3 is normally closed being opened when the relay B/3 is energizedat the end a change giving operation.

The second contact of the step up switch 51 is not used for maintaininga holding circuit for the coil 55 and the relay B/ 3, and is usedinstead for operating a counter 70 which counts in sixpenny units. Thefirst, third, fifth, seventh and ninth positions of the second contactof the step up switch 51 are shared out and the second, fourth, sixth,eight and tenth positions are connected to the counter 70 to energizethe counter each time two threepenny tokens have been given as change.It will be appreciated that the particular positions of the switchconnected to the counter 70 would be adjusted accordingly if the machinewere arranged to give change in coins or tokens of a different value orif the counter counted in units other than sixpences.

The holding circuit to keep the relay B/3 and the coil 55 energized isprovided by the relay operable switch B4 and by the switch 71, which ismechanically coupled to the step up switch 51 so as to be moved to itsposition other than that shown in FIGURE 5 whenever the contacts of thestep up switch 51 are moved from their initial positions. It will benoted that if the apparatus is rendered inoperative during a changegiving operation e.g. as a result of mains failure the switches C4 and71 when the power supply is resumed will cause the reset coil 55 to beenergised so that the switch 51 is reset to its initial position. Inthis way the next person who operates the change giving machine is notcheated out of some of his change. If the switch 51 were not reset themachine would merely complete the change giving operation which wasinterrupted by the machine being rendered inoperative.

The coils 72 of the coin blocking mechanism (not shown) are de-energisedwhen either of the switches C3 and 71 operates.

Three counters 73, 74 and 75 may be provided as shown in FIGURE 5, thecounters being connected so as to be operated each time the coil 52, therelay C/3 and the relay A/3 are operated respectively, so as to countthe number of threepenny tokens dispensed, the number of half crowns andthe number of two-shilling coins inserted into the machine.

The coil 43 for disconnecting the register of the fruit machine during achange giving operation is not shown in FIGURE 5.

The invention is not limited to details of the foregoing embodiments.For instance a device as described in a copending application by thepresent inventor, U.S. Ser. No. 709,009, concerning a Slam Tilt for aPhonographic Fruit Machine may be used for rendering the apparatusinoperative if the apparatus is rocked, tilted, hit or otherwisesubjected to shock.

For a better understanding of this specification refer ence may be madeto the specification of a co-pending application of the presentinventor, U.S. Ser. No. 709,063

relating to a Control Equipment for a Phonographic Fruit Machine.

-I claim:

1. A dispensing apparatus capable of being operated in at least twodifferent ways to disperse a succession of articles, which apparatusincludes means for sensing the dispensing of each article, registeringmeans for each possible operation of the apparatus for registering thenumber of articles dispensed said registering means stopping thedispensing of further articles when a predetermined number has beendispensed, and connecting means for connecting the sensing means to theregistering means for a first operation of the machine, the connectingmeans being arranged, when the apparatus is operated according to asecond operation of the machine to disconnect the sensing meansautomatically from the registering means for the said first operationand to connect it instead to the registering means for the said secondoperation, the connecting means also being arranged, on completion ofsaid second operation, to connect the sensing means automatically withthe registering means for the saidfirst operation.

2. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, having for at least thefirst or the second of its possible operations an article receiving partfor receiving articles of different types and a control for controllingthat operation of the apparatus, which control comprises a plurality ofoper able control switches said control switches arranged to be eachpositioned in the article receiving part of the apparatus and operatedby the receipt of an article of a particular type and connected to startthe dispensing of articles when operated, said registering means forthat operation having a plurality of outputs, the control switcheshaving selecting means for selecting each output when the control switchis operated and arranged to be operated by the registering means whenthe predetermined number of articles has been d spensed, and stoppingmeans for stopping the dispensing of articles.

3. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the control isfor controlling the said second operation of the apparatus, each controlswitch being connected to the connecting means so that the controlswitch operates the connecting means to disconnect the sensing meansfrom the registering means for the said first operation and connect itto the registering means for the said second operation, and each outputis connected to the connecting means to operate the output on completionof the second operation and operates the connecting means to restore theconnection between the sensing means and the registering means for thesaid first operation.

4. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which at least oneregistering means is a stepping switch.

5. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the connectingmeans includes a pawl, and the registering means for at least one of thepossible operations of the apparatus includes a ratchet, the pawl andratchet being for operation together, the connecting means beingarranged, when the apparatus is being operated according to the secondoperation of the apparatus, to prevent the pawl from operating theratchet.

6. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which connectingmeans also includes a solenoid arranged to be operated, when theapparatus is being oper ated according to the said second operation ofthe apparatus, to move the pawl clear of the ratchet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,054 1/1956 Hehn 194102,908,266 10/1959 Cooper 194-10 X 2,974,772 3/ 1961 Zeigle et al 19410 X3,343,641 9/1967 Robinson 194-10 FOREIGN PATENTS 518,679 3/ 1940 GreatBritain. 871,039 6/1961 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner

